Monday, March 28, 2011

Thrift Share - March 28

A rainy weekend put a damper on spring yard sales but I found a few thrifting goodies.  I've also made a commitment to allow myself to spend some money on a few higher priced items later this week (clearly not what you see below!).  I have 68 items in my shop and only 5 are priced above $20!  I'm ok with that since my goal was to start small and not lose money.  I've had a decent number of sales the past two weeks so I'm going to visit the antiques market and hopefully the flea market this week and put the money back into the shop.



Who remembers Arthur's Honey Bear?  One of my favorite books as a kid.  Surprise, a tag sale plays heavily in the plot.  Of course this is only a fraction of the books I picked up this week.  I'm having free shipping on books this month in hopes of moving more from the shop!


Lovely, worn ironstone creamer.  Likely qualifies as an antique.  Holds about 1 1/2 cups comfortably. As much coffee as I consume this large creamer is perfect.  I really love it, probably a keeper.  Marked USA on the bottom.


I'll be cleaning this tray and bowl using Selena's olive oil and salt method.  It worked perfectly for some others I have in the shop.


I know...totally not my style.  These are actually very sweet vintage cross stitch pieces when seen in person (or with better photos).  People get sweet and kinda kitschy during Easter so I thought I would put them in the shop for super cheap-o.  Maybe different frames would give them some new life?



And in unrelated news:  My kids have tried and enjoyed felting.  The above tiny felting pack sells at our Hobby Lobby for $2.50 (or $3?) and I purchased it for $0.49.  Handy.  There is also a Star Wars birthday party in my future so I was very happy to grab 18 sticker packs for $1.80.

Thanks for stopping by, come visit the etsy shop if you are so inclined.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Breakfast Nook and Kid Art

Today we'll just pretend that I'm not a Project Simplify flunkie and focus on something I've actually completed, Yea!  I've turned our breakfast nook into a little gallery for the kids' artwork.  It's a grouping of mostly abstract painting with some crayon and collage thrown into the mix.



 The black frames unify the different artwork which I think is helpful since there isn't really a color scheme going on.  The breakfast nook or kitchen is often a fairly casual space in a home.  It seems like a logical place to display kids' artwork.  It's displayed and obviously valued by the family but doesn't overtake the decor if you prefer to have a formal living room free of kiddie stuff.



Most of these frames were purchased at IKEA or Target fairly inexpensively.  I've also posted previously about thrift store frames.  They are cheap, abundant and easily freshened up with spray paint.  


This piece above is hung in a hallway.


This robot graces a kid's room corner.  It's hung a little lower than normal so little people don't have to crane their necks to enjoy it.

Although I'm not very good at tossing artwork, framing a couple of pieces each year makes it easier to let  some of the drawings and paintings make their way to the recycle center.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Thrift Share - March 21

The thrifting was light this week.  Most of the week was spent taking care of sick children.  I hopefully checked craigslist Sunday morning but in our neck of the woods estate sales, and even yard sales, usually wrap up by Saturday afternoon.  My treasures from  two 5 minute resale shop stops:


This gorgeous milk glass dish was is in wonderful condition. Still smooth and shiny and came with a twin!  I think this would traditionally be used for relish maybe?  I envision them holding some wonderful collection.  How beautiful would these be filled with chandelier crystals or vintage thread?



I love this key ring.  I initially thought it was all brass but then found a little scrap on the middle ring.  The middle ring is likely zinc with brass plating.  Does that mean the large ring is plating also? I suppose so...cool nonetheless.


This little carafe has been waiting for me. I saw it three weeks ago at our "upscale" resale and for some reason passed it up.  It is delicate and beautiful, I snatched it up when I found it still on the shelf Thursday.

As always,  a few of my treasures will be in the Etsy shop. 

Thanks for stopping over (from ATG, I assume).  I can't wait to see your thrifting scores.

Generations

Do you have cherished possessions passed down from your grandfather or maybe your great-great grandmother?  How do feel about the things that are fragile and delicate?

My mother-in-law invited me to go along one afternoon as she was cleaning out some things from her mother's house.  I knew that she wanted us to take a very old set of china which belonged to my husband's great-grandmother and I left with a bookshelf, books, and a few other small trinkets as well.

The shelf and books were put to use right away but the china remained packed in our basement for several months.  It's intended for my son, who's middle name belongs to the great-grandmother and the china bears that initial.  I've recently decided that this is a better place for it:


Yes, I'm a little worried that one of the dishes will be broken.  Surprisingly there is a perfect set of six place settings even after all these years.  Isn't part of the reason for keeping things from relatives to think about and remember them?  Because we have a few of these passed down things around the house, we tend to talk about their past owners and others in our family.  It reminds use to share memories with our children who didn't have the chance to know the great-grandmother or the uncle who passed away.


These sweet little birds sit in front of my "wedding" china.  One of the kids wanted to help me display things in this cabinet and he gently held the little birds and of course asked, "Where did these come from?"  They may well be broken before my children reach adulthood but at least they have served a purpose.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Houston, We Have a Problem

So...Simple Mom's "hot spot" for the Spring Challenge Project: Simplify was the paper pile.   "The" paper pile implies one paper pile.  People have one? I have multiple paper piles, stashed everywhere.  Stashed in the storage closet because I had to clean up quickly.  Stashed in a paper bag because my paper basket was over flowing.  Stashed under my bed because I brought a pile in from the car and didn't have time to deal with it...

This is not a five day task for me!  Since the project was announced 6 days ago I've made decent progress. It will be another 3 or 4 days before I'm willing to post "after" pictures.  Here are a few pictures of the train wreck as it was on March 14:



Above:  A Stack spread out of the dining room table for sorting


Another stack shamefully hidden in the basement storage closet


Yet another stack.  Once in the bottom of my closet, now stashed in location #2 awaiting judgement


A fab file cabinet.  Full of paper...clearly more paper than one household needs to keep.

Oh boy...

Monday, March 14, 2011

Thrift Share Monday - March 14

Good afternoon, all! I've found some goodies to share.  I must say, this Etsy shop ownership is getting dangerous.  Whenever I'm at an estate sale or out thrifting I found myself constantly saying, "I can sell that!".  It's a fabulous excuse to take home way too much.  I should be banned from sales until I actually make a few more sales...


I just happened to drive by a partial "estate" sale (hello, yard sale) right down the street from my house on Friday.  I came home with this gorgeous chenille bedspread.  My husband's not crazy about it so it may end up on Etsy...


I strive to have a paperless kitchen so whenever I find clean looking linens I grab them.  I was also happy to have found the little service bell on the thrift store shelf.


The above office storage box was also at a thrift store.  25 cent sale on all office supplies? Yes Please!  This will be in the shop later, listed fairly cheap due to the original price.


Great assortment of mugs from various sales. The transferware set was made in Brazil and two of the cups are Buffalo China pieces.  Restaurant ware rocks.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Project Simplify: Closet

Closet, done! As I mentioned in the previous post, I've committed to joining "Project Simplify" with Simple Mom.  Although I didn't devote enough time to tackle my dresser drawers, my closet (my half at least) is complete and looks much better. Here's the brief run-down with photos!

Before




After




I must say I was relieved when I saw Tsh's post this morning.  Her closet re-do wasn't done by Martha Stewart and a magazine staff, it was a "real life re-do".  I didn't spend any money or make this a 12 hour endeavor.  I feel better when I open the closet door and know I actually want to spend a couple of hours and go through my dresser also.  A couple more photos below:

The hamper in the above shot was once out in our room beside my husband's chest of drawers.  It's not hideous but I'm glad to have the space to keep this in the closet!

I'd been hanging onto this skirt for years.  It's of good quality but I'm simply not going to wear a skirt that goes down to the floor.  bye bye.



These two photos above show what went to the thrift store.  Only 12 items total.  Hopefully I can say goodbye to more once I hit the dresser.

The above demonstrates my main housekeeping problem - STASHING! A bunch of junk that had no business being in the closet.

Thank you Simple Mom!  Wonder what's on the agenda for next week?

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Simple Mom Spring Challenge

I thoroughly enjoy the blog Simple Mom.  Tsh and her group of contributors post an array of topics, the blog's subtitle is "Life hacks for home managers". Perfect.  Tsh gave the heads up about a Spring Challenge (I think it's called Project Simplify) a few weeks ago and she introduced the first "hot spot" yesterday.  It's the closet...
I'm on board. I wish I was excited about this.  I want to be excited about this.  I'm forcing myself to follow along because I really need some motivation.  The idea is more focused on your clothes than your closet, although it stands to reason that once you've gone through all your clothes your closet will obviously look nicer.  Before photos have been taken and three minutes from NOW I'll have published this embarrassing post and my messiness will be out there for all the world to see.  When I say "All the World" I, of course, am referring to my lone follower and a handful of stragglers.  Guess that's not so embarrassing after all!

Here goes:



The idea is to post your progress this Friday, March 10th.  Don't get too excited, it's already Tuesday afternoon and all I've done is photograph the mess!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Thrift Share Monday - Flea Market!

I ventured to the flea market!  My only disappointment was the fact that I didn't have enough time to take it all in.  That 3 hour preschool window can put a damper on thrifting, but I shouldn't complain...at all...I've got it good.  It takes 40 minutes to get to the flea so once there I scanned like crazy and tried not to stop too often.  Don't you agree that it would feel a little strange to whip out your camera at the flea?  Maybe it's just "the south", but this flea market breed is tough to read.  I decided to wait until I got home to snap my finds. Maybe next time I'll be brave and get some photos while I'm there.  Some of these will be in the shop...eventually.


Awesome military signal/flare box. It's a little rusty but overall in great condition, the hinge and latches work fine. Unique storage option.  The man at this particular booth was literally falling asleep on the job.  He had about a 50'x30' area full of stuff. Furniture, linens, glass, rusty farm tools, books, wood stoves, etc.  Whenever someone had a question they would have to say, "Sir", about 4 times to wake him from his cat nap.  I also scored the next two finds from this character (I'm not complaining, he was quite agreeable with his bargaining!).


These trays remind me of school lunches!  I also bought two more with a faux wood finish (they're listed in the shop already.  I think they'd make perfect crafting trays.  I also give my kids trays when they sit down to put a lego project together.


I already own a set of these Fire King custard cups but you can never have too many, right?  I think they are screaming to organize an office desk drawer or beading supplies.  There are quite a few of these already on Etsy...undecided about listing or keeping.



Something about these is just beautiful.  I don't bake, I've never decorated a cake, but I picked these up immediately.  They were made in Germany and are in surprisingly good condition.  This woman also had a vintage wood sewing needle display, the kind that would be found in a general store in the early 1900s. I believe it was "Boyle".  Any sewing experts would have surely loved it.

 

The bottles came from a man who said he dug them up in Virginia.  Interesting how something so beautiful was tossed out with the trash.  I guess we forget how the mundane can be lovely.  I had intended to list the Ball jar but upon closer inspection there may be a little crack.  I can't tell if it's a crack or just a pitch fork scratch.  I would be awfully embarrassed to put it in the mail and have it arrive broken on someone's doorstep.


Thanks, All! Can't wait to check out your Thirft Share finds.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Vintage Books

Apparently I've been bitten by the vintage book bug.  I was originally inspired by my neighbor's glassfront cupboard that anchors her living room.  She has a classic style, her home is very comfortable to be in. Lots of antiques and beautiful textures.  Everything is very calm and appealing to the eye, neutral colors, nothing competing for attention.
Think about a shelf full of modern bookcovers with bright colors and various competing fonts.  A rainbow of dust jacket colors sometimes tamed by grouping.  What feeling does that create in comparison to a shelf full of vintage books?  Brown, navy, muted red or soft green.  The titles, sometimes barely visible with a slightly gold shimmer.  Even the dust jackets' colors are muted by time and don't scream for attention.
I've picked up quite a few books in the last two weeks (about twice what is pictured below).  I also have gathered a great collection of vintage craft books and nature guides.




If you are a crafter, vintage books are a wonderful resource and great as supply as well.  A few items from Etsy crafters for inspiration:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62508208/love-toasty-brown-edition-vintage?ref=cat2_list_13


From Memory Dust on Etsy
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By ShannonKayeDesigns on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69289463/folded-book-art-cascade?ref=sr_list_4&ga_ref=auto&ga_search_query=folded+paper&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fart

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Second hand books are affordable as decor, as reading material, or art supply.  Check the shelves at the antique, consignment, or thrift stores and find some treasures.  P.S. - There are plenty of current titles as well!

I'll be listing vintage books occasionally in my Etsy shop.  I've gotten lucky and even found quite a few first edition copies.